Now comes word from ESPN.com Brian Windhorst (who reported the first Heat-Oden dalliance) that the ex-Blazers big man is eyeing a return, but not until the 2013-14 season:

Sources told ESPN.com that multiple teams have already expressed interest in signing Oden to a multi-year deal before the end of this season that would allow him to continue his rehab until he can get back on the court in training camp next fall.

The Miami Heat are at the front of the line in pursuing Oden, two sources said, and have been keeping tabs as he recovers while also taking classes at Ohio State.

Sources say that the Heat, though, are not alone in their pursuit of the former No. 1 overall pick.

The Heat potentially could have two roster spots available this season, one of which Oden could slide into as he continues to rehab. Team president Pat Riley is known to like gambling on long shots, especially when it comes to big men.

Don’t get too excited yet, though, Miami fans. There are some cap-related hurdles which could keep Oden from joining Miami’s star-studded (and defending-champion) cast of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the near future.

One concern for the Heat, though, is they already are committed to more than $80 million in salaries for next season and very likely will have a final payroll coming close to $90 million in a year when the new, more harsh luxury tax kicks in. Oden would potentially be a costly gamble even on a minimum-level contract. The Heat are also currently about $14 million over the luxury-tax line for this season.

…

In attempting another comeback, Oden’s camp is planning to take a very conservative approach. So the plan is for him to sit out the rest of this season and summer league to make sure he allows himself the best chance of finally getting healthy.

The Heat, who have been on the lookout for a center for three years, were interested in Oden before the start of last season when he was a restricted free agent. But he ended up taking a one-year, $8.9 million deal with the Blazers. After a setback in his recovery, the contract was reduced to $1.5 million and he later had the microfracture procedure.

It’s a gamble for the Heat if this all works out, given that Oden has never played in a full season (his healthiest campaign was a 61-game effort in 2008-09). Still, if Oden is fully recovered — and given the talent he showed in his collegiate days at Ohio State — his landing in Miami (or elsewhere) could be the steal of the offseason.

142 Comments

really so pathetic, and funny it happened to my team the blazers twice, once before with Sam Bowie. I hope this dude gets over his knee problems and comes back to see what he can do. even a short career of ,say five years wouln’t hurt.
naser from Libya

Why are people looking at Wade being traded? Did you really think he was going to have seasons like he has previously with Lebron playing as good as he is? Being the 2nd scorer on the team and averaging 20ppg, that’s what Westbrook does backing up Durant, only reason he isn’t scoring more is because he isn’t taking as may shots, and if you say that’s not the reason for him not scoring as much, have a look at the stats. Wade is ranked 8th in the League at scoring, but in the top 10 scorers, he is ranked 3rd in %FG shooting, shooting above 50% He doesn’t need to drop as much as he used to, Bosh has been on and off, he is right at the top of the PR’s, but this hasn’t been his best season so far. Ray’s numbers have gone down, Chalmr’s numbers have gone down, they use Miller the wrong way.

Greg was getting pretty good before the last knee injury. It doesn’t surprise me that he has some interest. As for the Heat, I like their chances with the “Three Kings,” but they can’t play post defense well and have to small ball to win. I couldn’t rely on Greg Oden in a playoff series with the amount of rust he has on him. The Celtics shouldn’t have sniffed 2 victories in last years series. They dominated in the post, rebounded well, and grinded out half court possessions. A team like the Spurs would give the Heat all kinds of problems in a long series. I would have to say……….. trade Bosh for some inside presence. Maybe Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap, maybe DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond or Greg Monroe plus another piece, Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee (Bosh would kill in Denver’s system). The post play was a big issue in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Heat are not winning a championship. They’re to small and wont be able to keep getting insane numbers from LeBron through out the playoffs and the finals. Teams like the Bulls, the Heat, the Pacers, and the emerging Celtics, as well as maybe the Nets will kill the Heat in the inside. No way their getting through the East Semis, let alone the East Finals. If the Heat make the finals (which is a miracle), the Heat will get beat up in the inside by teams like the Thunder, the Spurs, the Lakers, the Clippers, and the Warriors. Oden looked good but he got injured numerous times which is why he is a liablilty. The Heat need a legit big man that is healthy, like Spencer Hawes, or need to draft a big man. No tittle for the Heat though.

You really need to proof read your posts.
The Thunder don’t have a post game and they can’t beat anybody up from the inside, the Nets are a joke, literally (have you seen William’s and Johnson’s stats), the Celtics are not emerging and unless hell freezes over, the Lakers will not reach this year’s NBA Finals. Golden State is overachieving, they will drop to the 4th or 6th seed and they will never make it out of the 1st round.

Enough already! Greg Oden, move on! Everyone is sick and tired of hearing about you. You are not a true athelete, or a basketball player. If it werent for your size, your another one of those people who never would have even come close to making the NBA. This brokendown weak azz, piss poor excuse for an athelete has cost enough money to the Portland Trailblazers already. He should by rights, be forced to work off his debt to that team before hes aloud to do anything anywhere else in the NBA. But these players dont care about loyalty or doing what is right and just, all they care about is getting what they so selfishly think is theirs!

No doubt Oden is a skilled player but because of his size and past knee injuries, he can never play basketball again without having an injury to his ankle or knee. Therefore, retirement is the best option for Oden.

If Greg Oden was Healthy, don’t you think he could start to develop to the start potential people saw in him years ago? I bet Miami is the best place for Him, to along side with the PRIMING Lebron, they could have the potential to be a dangerous one two combination, PLUS He could help miami with defense and rebounds!

obviously CB1 is not comfortable at 5spot. he’s a 4 guy… come on! Greg Oden?? he has a fragile knee now, he is no fit for the system of run and gun of the Heat. i’d like to see Chris “the birdman” Andersen instead fit a Heat uniform.

I am sure he made enough money to live the rest of his life on easy street. With that being said he needs to stay away from the NBA, he is a 24 year old in a 50 year olds body. If 50 year olds could still play Jordan, Magic and Bird could come back and remind people what real players look like.

The idea is of a healthy greg oden is good but the reality Is only in fantasy. He can still grab boards im saying 8.5 a night playing 22 mins a game, and give you 7-9 points a game, 1.2 blks. Playing 66-71 games. He is still a big guy.

Good for him if he comes back, good for Miami as well, however, his knee problems look very serious, even if he comes back, i think that he will never be the player everybody saw in 2007, Half Oden is what any team in the Nba will get if they choose to sign him.

I would take a closer look at Milwaukee’s Larry Sanders. He’s a guy like Ibaka or Noah. Blocking shots and rebounding on a high per 48 min rate with average offensive skills. Get him. Get more rings. May be trade D-Wade for Eric Gordon. It makes me said to write that, but he’s not himself anymore.

As a Blazer fan, I wouldn’t mind seeing Oden play for the Heat. If he gets injured, it won’t hurt the Heat as they are already a championship proven team. If he doesn’t, who really cares? The Heat will be winning the next few years anyways. Only team that is a threat is the Thunder, and they aren’t a team that can beat the Heat in a 7 game series.

I just hope he doesn’t return to a team I hate like the Lakers, Clippers, Mavs, or Knicks. Outside of the Mavs, those teams are egomaniac morons. The Mavs I just don’t like because I get sick of all the drama around that team that only won a championship once although should have never gotten past the first round but the refs were unfair.

As one of the heat fans, i believe acquiring a player who deals with lots of injuries will do nothing about the heat team. What the team needs is a big man who’s healthy enough and have the potential to be their center. Miami needs a man who can REBOUND and can apply defensive composure!

It’s never good when a player goes down with an injury, guys like Rose, Ming, Roy, Rubio. If Oden comes back he needs to be healthy. I think he can make a difference if healthy, but I guess thats the question.

Odom jst needs to concentrate on getting his knees healthy enough so when he is 40 he can walk even though is Nba Career was a bust he still made millions so he needs to get his degree & hopefully he has money left that he can parlay into a legit business. Why risk doing more damage to his knees & making his future life a wheelchair

The Heat just needs a big rebounder and shot blocker thats all. Not Oden his already done. Maybe if spolstera used his initiative and give more minutes to anthony in the centre and chris bosh could stay on the PF. Anthony is only listed 6 ‘9 but have the reach and wing span of 7 footer. legitimate shot blocker and rebounder. he Out rebounded Ibaka in the finals.
So miami wake up and insert anthony in starting line up and more minutes

Honestly, this clown is a liability, He actually blamed the enviornment of portland for his shotcommings. Are you serious? The guy has been recovering from a swollen knee for years. He totally screwed portland and waisted a draft pick. Then he actually blamed the city and the team for his rehab issues. Maybe if he stopped getting drunk and dancing a strip clubs he could have come back in a timely manner. Paying a silly big clown millions of dollars to sit out for 5 years is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Retire.. and stop costing fans money and time.

heat urgently needs a center who can be a real intimidator inside the paint and can rebound and doesnt need to score a lot,like turiaf last seaon his hustle and defense and rebounds..they can get eddie curry back wide body and his height alongside with kenyon martin and chris andersen and dexter pitmann…terrell harris should be in the d-league so they can have enough roster.

Haha clearly another laker fan looking for excuses to get goods from another team. GASOL IS OLD DUDE why would we trade Bosh (who is in his primeI AND based on his performance now he is basically a overhyped player. Bosh is golden to miami. He has chemistry why take the risk of getting another and gamble to the team chemistry with it? Think ok maybe you can use it more often?

I wish him well but on the real I don’t see him toughing another season, another thing that surprised me was the list of teams willing to give him a chance…I’d rather take a chance of Royce White over G.O

are you kidding me? Oden has got the mental toughness and persistence to keep coming back to play the game he loves. Whereas White is a weak little brat who is afraid of flying ffs. I’ll take a man over a kid any day.

The heat need a big man that can do all the dirty work & intimidate opponents such as the Indiana pacers a team that almost exited Miami from the playoffs last season mainly due to their aggressiveness. At this point i’m sure Greg Oden knows he can’t be what he was predicted to be when playing college ball rather just playing on a championship team would satisfy him besides the amount of money Miami can give to him of course. It won’t be alot but hey, going through what he has i’m positive that even a couple hundred thousand dollars would be enough. Because after all if he wins a championship with the Heat his stock value will go up there for he can get paid later on. soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

the Heat will not repeat….I repeat,the Heat will not repeat….Oden would be a big waste of their resources…remember that other big man from Chicago…Eddie Curry…and of course there was Juwan Howard another Chicago product…we even gave you Dwayne Wade and rookie Norris Cole,both from Chicago…Chicago has been very generous to the city of Miami and Miami owes Chicago BIG TIME. without Chicago basketball players Miami would be nothing!

The Heat tried Ilgauskas, Magloire and Dampier, only to not use them in the playoffs. They tried Curry and never played him. They still have Pittman, but he has only played 12 minutes in this season and never saw any playing time, even when the Heat could have needed a big guy that can block out and rebound.
I think it’s ridiculous to play small against every team, especially teams like Utah, Memphis or a healthy Lakers team (James and Bosh try to guard Howard and Gasol, are you kidding me). However, just like D’Antoni wants to run with his old guys and play Pau as a guard, Spoelstra is determined to play small. If they get Oden, what are the chances he will be able to contribute any more than Curry last season?

I agree that the heat needs someone to rebound to at least take off the pressure in the rebounding sense from lebron. But I don’t agree to your comment that playing small is dumb. Sure they have their disadvantages. Specially if guys like Zach Randolph is in the game. But small is basically equivalent to speed. Which they utilize very efficiently. Also the jumping power of lebron and d wade definitely can overlook the size advantage. I’m not saying 100% they will win against this big teams. But I know they can compete. Also for the lakers, have you seen the chemistry of dwight and gasol? Horrible. It will only get worse cause based on one article they are on the verge of one of the toughest schedules currently… and what makes it worse is both players have been VERY VERY OPEN to injuries.

[…] Report: Oden Eyeing Comeback With Heat?NBA.com (blog)Sources told ESPN.com that multiple teams have already expressed interest in signing Oden to a multi-year deal before the end of this season that would allow him to continue his rehab until he can get back on the court in training camp next fall. The …Report: Greg Oden Hopes to Return to NBA This SeasonBleacher ReportGreg Oden plotting return to NBA, Heat reportedly among teams interestedSB NationAnother report Oden hasn't given up NBA dream completelyNBCSports.comall 21 news articles » […]

gettin birdman or kmart r horrible choices they r dumb. d wade is no longer consistent they should trade d wade and chalmers for LaMarcus Aldridge and d Lillard. and that wont be a problem on the salary, coz d wade gets more money then LaMarcus and chalmers gets more then lillard coz hes a rookie

There is absolutely no way that anyone would every make that trade if they are going from the Blazers’ end… They would be trading their two franchise players for a regressing D-Wade and Mario Chalmers who I’d rather have as a backup than a starter. Plus, you’re forgetting that LaMarcus Aldrigde ISN’T A CENTER. He’s a PF just like Chris Bosh, except LaMarcus actually plays PF most of time because the Blazers have Hickson and Leonard. Might wanna do a little research before commenting…

why on earth would portland give up a future superstar with a rookie contract and a solid frontcourt player (costing 52 mil over the next 3 years) for (as you mentioned) an unconsistent superstar and worse PG than they’ve got right now… (costing 43 mil for the next 2 years plus wade has a player option to get another 20 in the third)

Financially useless. And I’m pretty sure portland would like to improve at some point, why should they trade for old guys and break their core?

Lillard will be a franchise player, a future superstar and perhaps even a face of the NBA if he can keep up with the tempo he’s set so far.

In conclusion – there is no way Lillard is going anywere, and an option like Wade and Chalmers is not even worth mentioning, if you are the Blazers.

NB! Lillard-Aldridge ( 16,05 mil) for Wade-Chalmers (21,04 mil) … Would this go by the office, im not sure and i cant be botherd to do the maths…

Biggest bust? What rock have you been living under? If you weren’t as oblivious and dense you would recall the countless injuries that inhibited his growth as a basketball player. Honestly, I bet if your precious Derrick Rose was battered by injuries each consecutive year, you wouldn’t be talking trash now would you?

You know 0 about basketball, Bosh is 20 and 10 on any other team…key factor in Miami’s offense…how many times do you see a pick & roll in a Miami game..they almost do it every play, Miami nothing w/o Bosh

Lmao Bosh is not a 20 and 10 guy lmao….If he was on another team his stats would prolly diminish..Bosh should have career stats with the heat bz hes the third option. and dosent attact the attention like he did in Toronto….Bosh is overrated and and Miami heat are the BIGGEST complainers in the whole NBA.Wait till we can get a healthy Drose in the playoffs and a Two guard next year..well see whats up then

Bulls2012(not true btw)
ur an idiot!!
Bosh was and cud be a 20 & 10 guy on ANY team in the NBA. He should be complimented on the fact that he took a smaller role and less money all for the sake of winning.
Guys like Bosh who can put ego aside for the sake of team are a god send in all sports. Bosh is awesome!!!

um Bulls2012 you seriously do not know anything, as a Canadian and a Raptor fan, Bosh is an amazing player. let me show you some stats. Chris Bosh was drafted in the 2003 draft, he has made the all-star team every year after his rookie year (he made the rookie team his first year). He was the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 Rebounds, fourth-youngest player to record a 20 and 20 game. He won gold with team USA in 2008… So I wouldnt say that he is overrated. maybe you are upset that in the year he was a free agent he didnt come save you from having to take Boozer. Dont think Chicago wanted him? well here you go to stop you from saying that (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5349420). Stop being bitter and move on.

@Bulls 2012 you seriously do not know what you are talking about. Bosh came into the league in the 2003 draft and every year after his rookie year has made the All-Star Team. He was the third-youngest player to record 1,000 rebounds and the fourth-youngest player to have a 20 and 20 game. Maybe you are just upset because when Bosh was a free agent he didnt come and save you from having to get Boozer. Chicago didnt want him you may say? well here is proff they did (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5349420).

That bulls fan needs to lay off. miami heat destroy the bulls bosh is better than boozer, james is better than deng, and wade is better than rose, chalmers and cole can take care of any 2guard and as far as the center position goes wat do you expect since miami dont have a true center. but miamis bench is also better. bulls lost ther good bench players.

It hurts my eyes reading you Twizz. James and Wade and the premiere scoring options as they both average about 47 points per game combined every single night, that’s like about half of what the whole team scores. They are the two superstars that run the offense and the guards need to feed for them to stay hot and happy. Bosh averages 17 which is pretty good for a big men who is not the Heat premiere scoring option. He does a good job on the boards too. I’d say he is UNDERRATED.

It is funny how you draaaaaaaaaaaagggggg us along in your article and mentioned these ‘unamed sources’ and ‘other teams’ are interested in Oden and you did not even mention your sources or teams but just rehased an article we read months ago. This is the same status as 6 months ago…